Churchill Falls Emergency Response Updates

July 3, 2024 (6:24 p.m.)

Evacuation Order Has Been Lifted

Follow this link to our Information Page to keep updated on the resumption of town services and any special instructions upon returning home.

In consultation with Fisheries, Forestry, & Agriculture, along with our safety assessment of the town, it is with much gratitude to our Provincial Fire & Emergency Response Teams that we announce that the evacuation order for Churchill Falls has been lifted.

The fire is now listed as Being Held, meaning that Forestry Officials feel sufficient action has been taken to prevent further fire spread. Visit NL’s Active Wildfire Dashboard for details. While we anticipate that with current conditions and forecast that the fire status may change to ‘Under Control’ in the coming days, out of an abundance of caution we are asking that everyone to please remain prepared as conditions could change.

Over the past week, support teams have been on-site assessing infrastructure and preparing the town for a safe re-entry. Residents are asked to visit our information page on churchillfalls.ca for important information about re-entry, available town services and any special instructions upon returning home.

Hydro employees and families will be contacted directly by the People Care Centre to discuss travel preparations and are asked not to book air travel until they have heard from the Centre.

IMPORTANT SERVICE INFORMATION

As work continues to fully restore services in town, please note the following:

A Boil Water Advisory is in Effect. (details here on our information page)
Fuel Services will be available Thursday, July 4. Times will be posted as soon as they are available.
Grocery Store will be opened July 4 (12:00 to 8:00 p.m.)

Our teams are working diligently to have town services and facilities resume to normal operations as soon as possible. We will continue to provide important service updates for residents here at churchillfalls.ca in the coming days. Please check back regularly for the latest information.

We understand that this news brings a lot of excitement to return home. For those in the proximity of Churchill Falls, we encourage you to begin your travels in the morning as a safety precaution.

As you all start preparing for your travels home, we wish you a safe journey and look forward to seeing you soon.

Update July 2 (8:50 p.m.)

The evacuation order for the Town of Churchill Falls remains in effect, and we appreciate your cooperation in adhering to this direction for the safety and well-being of all. Only designated critical staff have access to the town at this time.

We continue to receive regular updates from provincial forestry officials and take their guidance as we continue to monitor when it may be safe for people to return home. Safety continues to be first priority and we appreciate your patience.

Fire status:
Forestry officials continue with monitoring and suppression activity. The fire remains at level one, and has not moved closer to the town (approx. 3-4 kms away). For the latest fire status, please refer to the Province’s Active Fires Dashboard.

Travellers & tourists:
A reminder to anyone travelling on the Trans Labrador Highway that there is no access to the Town of Churchill Falls, and service stations and other services in town are not available currently. Plan accordingly and ensure your vehicle is fueled or charged before using the TLH. Please be aware that the evacuation order for Churchill Falls remains in effect, and it applies to residents and visitors/ travellers alike.

Be safe and take care of yourselves and one another.

Update July 1 (6:55 p.m.)

As always, a reminder to our residents and employees to reach out any time to our People Care Centre if you require any assistance (709-733-5343 or [email protected]).

We understand everyone is anxious for information regarding the time frame for lifting of the evacuation order. We are working in close collaboration with Forestry and are taking their guidance as to when it may be safe for people to return. Although the fire remains unchanged as of today, Forestry are monitoring the latest forecast conditions, as the situation can change quickly. We must ensure the ongoing safety and health of critical personnel currently in town and for everyone before having residents and employees return.

Fire status:
Forestry officials continue with monitoring and fire suppression activity. The fire remains at level one, and has not moved closer to the town (approx. 3-4 kms away). For the latest fire status, please refer to the Province’s Active Fires Dashboard.

To travellers & tourists:
A reminder to anyone travelling on the Trans Labrador Highway that there is no access to the Town of Churchill Falls, and service stations and other services in town are not available currently. Plan accordingly and ensure your vehicle is fuelled or charged before using the TLH. Please be aware that the evacuation order for Churchill Falls remains in effect, and it applies to residents and visitors/ travellers alike.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

Update June 30 (5:55 p.m.)

We want to remind our Churchill Falls residents and employees, to reach out any time to our People Care Centre if you require any assistance (709-733-5343 or [email protected]).

The evacuation order for the town remains in effect, and we appreciate your cooperation in adhering to this direction for the safety and well-being of all. Only critical staff continue to have access to the Town of Churchill Falls at this time. We are currently working on changeover of people with a second shift of critical personnel. These team members have been notified and we will reach out directly to anyone needing to be called back to work.

We understand everyone is anxious for information regarding the time frame for lifting of the evacuation order. We assure everyone that we are working in close collaboration with Forestry and are taking their guidance as to when it is safe for people to return. Although the fire remains ‘under control’ as of today, Forestry are monitoring a forecast for hot, dry weather from Monday to Wednesday this week. As we saw during evacuation, the situation can change quickly. We must ensure the ongoing safety and health of critical personnel currently in town and for everyone before having residents and employees return.

We know this is challenging. We assure you that we are working behind the scenes to ensure issues such as air quality are confirmed, and that we have town services ready for everyone’s return. There is work happening everyday to keep you informed, and we will continue doing so.

Forestry officials continue with monitoring and fire suppression activity. The fire remains at level one, and has not moved closer to the town (approx. 3-4 kms away). For the latest fire status, please refer to the Province’s Active Fires Dashboard.

Take care of yourselves and one another

Update June 29 (5:30 p.m.)

At this time, the evacuation order remains in effect for Churchill Falls. Until further notice, only critical staff will have access to the Town of Churchill Falls. These team members have been notified and we will reach out directly to anyone needing to be called back to work.

We appreciate many are eager to return to your homes and your community, but there are many aspects to consider in order to ensure a safe return for everyone. We continue to monitor the fire status and work closely with provincial officials to get everyone back to Churchill Falls, but only when it is safe to do so.

There has been no tangible change with the fire, it remains a category 1 and is still approximately 3-4 kilometers away from the town. It has not reached homes, town buildings or infrastructure. The plant remains online at reduced levels of generation and teams have resumed on site operation.

Forestry teams are on site and coordinating fire response activities with all available resources. While the rain today has aided their efforts, they have advised that flare ups are possible until the fire has been completely extinguished. For the latest fire status you can check the Province’s Active Fires Dashboard, which is updated every six hours.

Residents can continue to reach out to our People Care Centre with any questions:

People Care Centre for Churchill Falls Residents
Phone: 709-733-5343
Email: [email protected]
No matter the topic, please reach out and a member of our team will do their best to assist you.

We encourage our Hydro employees to access their 24-hour Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) at 1-855-933-0103 or by visiting inConfidence.ca should you or your immediate family members wish to speak with someone for support.

Anyone who has been impacted by this event can reach out to provincial resources including Bridge the gapp and NL 811 Healthline for support.

Take care of yourselves and one another.

Update June 28 (5:00 p.m.)

A reminder to our friends and colleagues from Churchill Falls, please reach out to our People Care Centre if you need anything at all (709-733-5343 or [email protected]).

The evacuation order remains in effect. Only critical staff will have access to the Town of Churchill Falls at this time. These team members have been notified and we will reach out directly to anyone needing to be called back to work.

We appreciate many are eager to get back to your homes. We must be thoughtful and diligent in ensuring a safe return for all. This may take several days or longer as there are many considerations. We continue to monitor fire status and work with provincial officials to get you home only when safe to do so.

The fire remains approximately 3-4 kilometers away from the town. The fire remains held and has not reached homes, the town buildings or infrastructure.

The public safety advisory has been lifted for the Jacopie Spillway. Water is no longer being released from the spillway. The plant remains online at reduced levels of generation. Teams have resumed on site operation.

Forestry officials continue to monitor fire conditions, which remains at a level one. Forestry teams are on site and coordinating fire response activities with all available resources. They have advised that flare ups are possible until the fire has been extinguished completely. For the latest fire status please refer to the Province’s Active Fires Dashboard, which is updated every six hours.

The Trans Labrador Highway is open to through traffic. If you are travelling through Churchill Falls, please ensure your vehicles are charged or fueled before leaving. If your vehicle cannot travel this distance without refueling or recharging, we advise delaying travel plans. Services are not available in Churchill Falls. A reminder that the evacuation order for Churchill Falls remains in effect.

We expect our next update tomorrow evening.

Update June 28 (11:30 a.m.)

Please know that the evacuation order remains in effect for Churchill Falls. At this time, only critical staff will have access to the Town of Churchill Falls. These team members have been notified and we will reach out directly to anyone needing to be called back to work.

While the Trans Labrador Highway is open to through traffic and we appreciate many are eager to get back to your homes, please remember we must be thoughtful and diligent in ensuring a safe return for all. This may take several days or longer as there are many considerations. We continue to monitor fire status and work with Provincial Officials to get you home only when it is safe to do so.

The fire remains approximately 3-4 kilometers away from the town. There was a small flare up near the airport last evening, but the fire remains held and still has not reached homes, the town buildings or infrastructure. Forestry officials have advised that flares up are possible until the fire has been extinguished completely. Our teams continue to meet several times daily with Forestry Officials and following their guidance.

Forestry officials continue to monitor fire conditions. For the latest fire status please refer to the Province’s Active Fires Dashboard, which is updated every six hours.

Update June 27 (5:30 p.m.)

To Our People:
A reminder to our friends and colleagues from Churchill Falls, please reach out to our People Care Centre if you need anything at all (709-733-5343 or [email protected]).

The evacuation order remains in effect. We appreciate many are eager to get back. We are turning our attention to planning and preparing for residents to return to the community. This evening, we will be sending a small team of critical personnel into the Town to assess health and safety concerns and begin initial preparations. This team has been notified. We will know more once they have had a chance to assess and we will continue to provide updates on next steps as available. In consultation with Provincial Officials, there is a team working to get you home as soon as it is safe to do so.

We know some of the footage that has been shared publicly is difficult to see. The fire has not reached homes, town buildings or infrastructure. The fire remains approximately 3-4 kilometers away from the town. Our teams are meeting several times daily with Forestry Officials and following their guidance.

We will continue share updates through all available channels.

Fire Status:
Forest officials continue to monitor fire conditions and are advising of a positive outlook for the next several days. For the latest fire status please refer to the Province’s Active Fires Dashboard, which is updated every six hours.

The Trans Labrador Highway is open to through traffic. If you are travelling through Churchill Falls, please ensure your vehicles are charged or fueled before leaving. If your vehicle cannot travel this distance without refueling or recharging, we advise delaying travel plans. These services are not available in Churchill Falls. A reminder that the evacuation order for Churchill Falls remains in effect.

Update June 27 (4:00 p.m.)

General Residential Mail
All Churchill Falls mail coming through Canada Post, both packages and envelopes, are being sorted and securely held at the Canada Post postal office in Labrador City.

Urgent and Sensitive Mail
If you are a Churchill Falls resident, and require access to, or information on, urgent/sensitive mail (such as prescription, passports, etc.) please connect with the Canada Post Area Office at 709-944-3979. When you call, please be sure to have your Canada Post tracking number ready to help the Canada Post staff track and secure your package for you.

Update June 27 (2:05 p.m.)

To our colleagues from Churchill Falls, we know some of the footage that has been shared publicly is difficult to see. We want to assure you that at this time, the fire has not reached any homes, town buildings or infrastructure. The fire remains approximately 3-4 kilometers away from the town.

We will continue to keep you updated through all available channels. If residents have questions at any time, please reach out to our People Care Centre: 709-733-5343 or [email protected].

We’ve been advised that Government has reopened the Trans Labrador Highway (Route 500) to through traffic. The evacuation order for Churchill Falls remains in effect. If you are travelling through Churchill Falls, please ensure your vehicles are charged or fueled before leaving. If your vehicle cannot travel this distance without refueling or recharging, we advise delaying travel plans. These services are not available in Churchill Falls.

Update June 27 (11:30 a.m.)

Our People:
Our teams continue to focus on supporting our colleagues and their families from Churchill Falls. We are thankful for the outpouring of support throughout the province and for all the kindness being shown to those displaced, as well as those working tirelessly on the ground to support our people.

Our Town and the Churchill Falls Plant:
At this time, homes and buildings in Churchill Falls have not been impacted by the fire. The plant continues to operate at a reduced load. The evacuation order remains in effect, we appreciate many are anxious to get back to their homes and the community. We continue to assess risk and in consultation with Forestry officials will determine when safe return is possible, first for critical teams to return, followed by all residents.

We will continue to provide updates as information is available and advise of coordinated, joint media availability with our partners in this response. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

June 26 (6:00 p.m.)

Our People:
Our teams continue to focus on supporting our colleagues and their families who have been displaced. We continue to coordinate response with our Provincial Partners – all are working to protect your community.

Our Town and the Churchill Falls Plant:
At this time, homes and buildings in Churchill Falls still have not been impacted by the fire and the plant continues to operate at a reduced load.

Fire Status:
Forestry officials continue to monitor fire conditions and report that the fire is approximately 4 km from the town. For the latest fire status please refer to the Province’s Active Fires Dashboard, which is updated every six hours.

June 26 Media Availability
Premier Dr. Andrew Furey, Jennifer Williams, along with Provincial Forestry Officials provided a media availability this afternoon to provide information on the situation in Labrador. Please watch the recording on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFk1n3lNclo

Update June 26 (1:30 PM)

Our People:
Our teams continue to focus on supporting our colleagues and their families who have been displaced from their homes. It is very clear to our team, and now the world, that Churchill Falls is a special place for so many. We continue to coordinate response with our Provincial Partners – all are working to protect your homes and community.

Our Customers:
Please follow our website and social media (@NLHydro) for the latest information. For updates anytime, please contact our customer service team at 1-888-737-1296 or nlhydro.com/outages. Thank you for your understanding as we continue to safely restore power as soon as possible for customers.

Our Town:
At this time, homes and buildings in Churchill Falls have not been impacted by the fire and the plant continues to operate at a reduced load.

Fire Status:
Forest officials continue to monitor fire conditions. For the latest fire status please refer to the Province’s Active Fires Dashboard, which is updated every six hours.

We appreciate your patience and understanding.

June 25 (10:54 PM)

Fire Status:
Forest officials continue to monitor fire conditions and has advised that as of this evening town structures have not been impacted. For the latest fire status please refer to the Province’s Active Fires Dashboard , which is updated every 6 hours.

Plant & Transmission Operations:
The plant remains online at a reduced load.

Evacuation Order in Effect:
At the recommendation of Forestry Officials, a full evacuation order is now in effect for all personnel remaining in the Town of Churchill Falls. All personnel have now been evacuated.

Please respect that this is a difficult time for those displaced by these fires. We will continue to provide updates as information is available. Questions and requests from the media should be directed to [email protected], 709-689-9938.

JUNE 25, 2024

Updated Evacuation Order for Churchill Falls (2:55 PM)

Due to the progression of the fire today, and under the direction of Forestry officials, teams on the ground in Churchill Falls are now safely evacuating the area in a phased and orderly fashion.

Our thoughts are with the folks who have been on the ground keeping things going until now and we cannot thank them enough for everything they have done.

Stay safe everyone. We will continue to provide more information with you as it becomes available.

JUNE 24, 2024

Fire update (9:50 p.m.)

Our thoughts are always with our residents and those who are working on-site to support fire response and maintain this major operating facility. We hope you can find some comfort in knowing that provincial fire officials and their responders are doing everything they can to fight this fire so people can safely get home.

Fire crews continued their efforts throughout the day to focus on keeping the fire on the south side of the Churchill River, holding its perimeter. Ground crew efforts were ongoing at the location near Brinco Bridge, which is currently Being Held. Visit NL’s Active Wildfire Dashboard for more details. Final commissioning of the portable sprinkler system is underway and there was 1.5 km of work completed on the town fire break.

Teams are intently monitoring the weather forecasts, as tomorrow is expected to be a critical day for suppression efforts.

As part of our fire response, we began a controlled release of water this evening from the upper Churchill reservoir at the Jacopie Spillway. You can view the Public Safety Advisory by visiting our page here.

We will provide another update tomorrow evening, unless new information becomes available.

Be safe and take care of yourselves and each other.

JUNE 23, 2024

Fire update (6:30 p.m.)

The fire remains on the south side of the Churchill River. Fire crews are continuing their response with the same dedicated manner as in previous days to keep the fire to the south side.

The fire near the Brinco Bridge area is currently Being Held, meaning that with the current and ongoing efforts in this area, sufficient action has been taken to prevent fire spread based on prevailing and forecasted conditions. Visit NL’s Active Wildfire Dashboard for more details.

The portable sprinkler system installation is near complete from the residential end of John Cabot St. to the western side of town to Bowman Crescent.

Work also began on a town fire break today on the south side of the Trans Labrador Highway approximately 3km west of Churchill Falls.

EVACUATION ORDER REMAINS IN PLACE. RETURNING TO RETRIEVE ITEMS IS NOT POSSIBLE.

We know that one of the biggest questions our residents and employees have right now is when they can return home.

The evacuation order is still in place. While there are emergency and critical personnel on the ground, general return to Churchill Falls is not possible and, at this time, Fire and Emergency Service Officials are not able to provide a timeline of expected return.

Please note that some critical plant personnel may need to return to Churchill Falls for relief shifts and/or critical work, but these decisions are strategically evaluated and planned to ensure everyone’s safety. You may hear of some workers returning to site on a case by case basis, but that does not mean the evacuation order has been lifted.

We know this is a very difficult time for everyone as you will not be able to return to Churchill Falls to retrieve anything left behind until the evacuation order is lifted. Please remember that the folks in critical roles here in Churchill Falls are doing everything they can to support the fire response and maintain a major operating facility. They are also thinking of their own families who are no longer in Churchill Falls while executing these roles. We are all very grateful for the work that they are doing, and as such, we please ask that residents refrain from asking them to retrieve personal items on their behalf. We appreciate your cooperation as teams on the ground focus their attention on critical work.

Safety is our number one priority, for everyone, and as soon as the evacuation order has been lifted, we will share that information with you directly.

We will provide another update late afternoon to early evening tomorrow, unless new information becomes available.

As always, be safe and take care of yourselves and one another.

JUNE 22, 2024

Fire update (9:30 p.m.)

We know this is a difficult time for everyone, and we know thoughts are with the folks on the ground keeping things going.

We have residents relocated, some who still have family on the ground in Churchill Falls. We want you to have no doubt that when it comes to the folks remaining in Churchill Falls, their safety is paramount. Whether you’re here in Churchill Falls or in Goose Bay, your well-being will always come first.

Similar to last evening’s update, fire efforts continued focus was to maintain the fire to the south side of the Churchill River. These dedicated efforts will be ongoing in the area tomorrow. Progress continued with ground crews working hotspots near the Brinco Bridge location with helicopter air support where needed. Similar work in this area will continue tomorrow as well.

Further work continued with the installation of industrial portable sprinklers on the perimeter of town extending toward the southern and eastern parts of the community.

As always, please stay familiar and reach out to Provincial resources such as Bridge the gapp and NL 811 Healthline for support. We also encourage our NL Hydro employees to access their 24-hour Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) at 1-855-933-0103 or by visiting inConfidence.ca should you or your immediate family members wish to speak with someone for support.

Keep informed on fire events by visiting NL’s Active Wildfire Dashboard and keep updated on Provincial News Releases related to these fire events. You can also visit churchillfalls.ca and NL Hydro for updates.

As always, we hope everyone is remaining safe and well.

Fire update (3:00 p.m)

Fire response is ongoing today with efforts to keep the fire on the south side of the Churchill River. Ground crews are continuing to work hotspots near the Brinco Bridge location. We will have further updates later this evening unless new information becomes available for us to share.

We encourage everyone to become familiar and reach out to Provincial resources such as Bridge the gapp and NL 811 Healthline for support. We also encourage our NL Hydro employees to access their 24-hour Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) at 1-855-933-0103 or by visiting inConfidence.ca should you or your immediate family members wish to speak with someone for support.

As always, keep informed on fire events by visiting NL’s Active Wildfire Dashboard and keep updated on Provincial News Releases related to these fire events. You can also visit churchillfalls.ca and NL Hydro for updates.

Our thoughts continue to be with our displaced residents. Stay safe and take care of yourselves and one another.

JUNE 21, 2024

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR DISPLACED CHURCHILL FALLS RESIDENTS

With the timeframe of the Evacuation Order being unknown, and residents displaced in temporary accommodations, we want to help you prepare for possible longer-term solutions.

One member of every family currently in the Goose Bay area is REQUIRED to be at the Hotel North 2 between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 22. Those displaced in Labrador West are REQUIRED to email [email protected] and you will be contacted with further information. There is no requirement for those outside of the Goose Bay or Labrador West areas at this time.

We sincerely apologize for the short notice of this requirement.

Be safe and take care.

Fire update (p.m.)

As always, we hope our residents are doing as well as they can during these difficult times.

Fire response is maintaining success in keeping the fire on the south side of the Churchill River. Despite windy conditions, fire crews were able to take effective action on flare-ups. Ground crews continued working hotspots at the Brinco Bridge location (known as fire 610) with air assistance when needed.

Forestry Officials consider today a good day with no significant spread. Fire response will continue into the evening and resume tomorrow with the same dedicated effort.

A number portable industrial size sprinklers are being installed and tested. These installations are to support readiness of potential ground efforts to slow fire should they be needed.

We encourage everyone to become familiar and reach out to Provincial resources such as Bridge the gapp and NL 811 Healthline for support. We also encourage our NL Hydro employees to access their 24-hour Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) at 1-855-933-0103 or by visiting inConfidence.ca should you or your immediate family members wish to speak with someone for support.

We can’t be thankful enough for the efforts of the fire responders, the Province and it services, and the tremendous generosity of communities and organizations who are doing everything to ease the burden of our residents.

Take good care of yourselves and one another.

Fire update (midday)

We hope everyone is doing as best as they can during these unfortunate times. We know it is much for our residents to face and anyone else who has been displaced as a result of the fires. Fire crews are unrelenting in their efforts to suppress these fires in order to get people safely back home. At this time, Fire officials are unable to offer a timeline of expected return.

Fire crew efforts proved successful in keeping the fire to the south side of the Churchill River yesterday. These efforts to keep the fire south will continue today along with the additional air supports secured by the Province. There will be ground crews on-site to work hotspots in the area of the fire west of Churchill Falls. Current weather conditions are cloudy with intermittent showers.

We will continue keeping you informed. We will aim to provide an update later this evening unless new information becomes available for us to share.

Take care of yourselves and one another.

Be safe.

JUNE 20, 2024

Fire Update (p.m.)

We are thinking about all of our residents and other evacuees of Churchill Falls during this trying time. We hope everyone is staying safe and keeping themselves and loved ones well.

Firefighting efforts continued throughout the day and will be ongoing throughout the evening. Fires remain active. We continue to meet and maintain regular contact with Forestry Officials.

We know that returning home safely is important to our residents. Based on the latest information from Forestry Officials, they do not expect any change in the evacuation order over the next 24 to 48 hours.

This is a difficult time for those displaced from their homes. We encourage anyone impacted by this event to become familiar and reach out to Provincial resources such as Bridge the gapp and NL 811 Healthline for support. We also encourage our NL Hydro employees to access their 24-hour Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) at 1-855-933-0103 or by visiting inConfidence.ca should you or your immediate family members wish to speak with someone for support.

The efforts of our Provincial responders have been relentless. We are grateful for their dedicated service and continued efforts to fight these fires.

We will provide another update tomorrow morning unless new information becomes available.

Be safe and take care.

Fire Update (a.m.)

First, we hope all our residents and other evacuees from Churchill Falls are safe and well. Thank you for your cooperation and helping ensure everyone was able to evacuate safely and in an orderly fashion last night.

We continue to be in close and regular contact with Forestry Officials. We have been informed that the fire on the south side of the Churchill River did not cross overnight.

Firefighting efforts will be ongoing today with four water bombers continuing their aggressive response. They will do staggered approaches of two in the air at one time in efforts to safely extend their operating hours. There will also be up to four helicopters equipped with water buckets providing fire response.

If you have not checked in at the YMCA in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, we urge you to do so. For those who may have travelled to Labrador West and did not pass through a check point, please ensure you check-in with the local RNC by calling 709.944.7602.

We know this is an uncertain time for our residents. We will continue keeping you informed and will aim to provide another update between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. this evening.

For the latest updates and forest fire information, stay informed by visiting NL’s Active Wildfire Dashboard and keep updated on Provincial News Releases related to these fire events. You can also visit churchillfalls.ca and NL Hydro for updates.

We want to extend our thanks and gratitude to organizations, hosting communities, government divisions, and countless individuals for their quick response and tremendous support to our evacuees.

Please stay safe and keep yourselves and your families well.

JUNE 19, 2024

UPDATE: Residents and visitors of Churchill Falls have been advised that the YMCA in Goose Bay is the check-in point for evacuees.

CF ALERTS: Evacuation Order in Effect for Town of Churchill Falls

Forestry Officials are advising residents and visitors of the Town of Churchill Falls that an Evacuation Order is in Effect due to changing conditions of the fire around the community. We ask the community for their assistance in implementing an orderly and safe evacuation by 8:15 p.m..

If you require transportation, please proceed to the Town Centre Foyer or the Staffhouse Bus area.

Forestry Officials advise people to head east to Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

You can prepare by doing the following:

Look in on friends and loved ones who may not monitor media regularly.
Keep electronic devices and cell phones charged, including mobile chargers.
Have your vehicle(s) filled with gas.
Sign up for Churchill Falls Mobile Alerts & Community Notices and visit churchillfalls.ca for updates.
Keep informed and monitor local media and NL’s Active Wildfire Dashboard and Government NL’s Forest Fire Season page for Public Notices and helpful links.

JUNE 16, 2024

We are thankful for the continued fire fighting efforts put forth by the Province throughout the day and into the evening. Forestry Officials continue to advise that there is no immediate risk to the community of Churchill Falls. Fire fighting efforts will continue tomorrow by Provincial fire fighting crews.

We encourage residents to continue staying informed by monitoring fire conditions at NL’s Active Wildfire Dashboard, visiting Government NL’s Forest Fire Season page for Public Notices and helpful links, and keep updated on Provincial News Releases related to these fire events.

Stay safe and be well.

JUNE 15, 2024

Update: Forest Fires near Churchill Falls

Favourable weather has been welcomed over the past 24-hours and is likely improving fire conditions. There are two water bombers currently in the area continuing with their fire response.

We will provide updates as new information becomes available from Forestry Officials or should conditions change.

Keep informed on fire conditions by visiting NL’s Active Wildfire Dashboard.

The Fire Index in the Churchill Falls area remains at VERY HIGH, placing a restriction on all open fires, including campfires. Please refrain from using all fire pits during this time.

Stay safe and be well.

JUNE 14, 2024

Update: Forest Fires near Churchill Falls (4:00 p.m.)

Firefighting efforts are continuing in our area. Forestry Officials continue to advise that the risk level at Churchill Falls currently remains the same in a NO RISK category.

We remain in regular contact with the provincial authorities on current and changing conditions of the forest fires. We will continue providing you with updates and information to keep you informed.

In addition to keeping our residents informed through Community Email Notices, residents are also encouraged to sign-up for Mobile Alerts and continue visiting our website for updates and information.

Residents are also encouraged to keep informed on fire conditions by following local media outlets and radio stations. Here are some interactive fire, smoke, and weather maps that you might find helpful.

Firesmoke.ca – forecasts the movement of fire smoke.
Natural Resources Canada Fire map – displays current fires, fire classifications, hotspots, etc.
Windy.com – Provides a variety of features including current and forecasted air quality.

Stay safe and be well

Update: Fires in the Churchill Falls area

The Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture continue their firefighting efforts today near the Churchill Falls area. We are in regular contact with our provincial authorities and continue to monitor conditions of this event. The town of Churchill Falls continues to remain at NO RISK.

As a precautionary measure of readiness, we want our community and workforce to know that we are ensuring that all plans are in place for everyone’s safety should this fire event become a risk.

We will provide an update at approximately 4:00 p.m. this afternoon, unless new information becomes available before that time.

Stay safe and be well.

JUNE 13, 2024

Active Fires in the Churchill Falls areas

We want our residents to know that the forest fires west of the Churchill Falls area are actively being fought by our provincial authorities. We are in regular contact with the Department of Natural Resources and continue to monitor the fires.

The provincial authorities indicate that the community of Churchill Falls is in no direct risk.

We will update you if anything changes.

Be safe.

Message from Churchill Falls Fire & Security

We are aware of a fire south west of the airport and the possibility of another one west of that.

Thank you to all our residents who have been reporting these to our local Fire & Security Department.